[ Nicknamed ‘The Shooting Devil’ in novel. Yellow Scarves commander. Executed by Cao Cao.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Ho Man
Simplified Chinese: 何曼
Pronunciation: He2 Man4 
Cantonese (Yale): Ho Maan
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Ho Maan
Min-Nan: Ho Ban
Birthplace: Unknown
Rank and Titles
Yellow Scarves Commander
Family and Relationships
He Yi, Huang Shao (Associates)
Fact vs. Fiction
Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction
- There is no historic mention of Huang Shao having been killed by Cao Hong. He is simply mentioned as having been executed as a result of the battle. [SGZ: 1]
- Died in February AD 196, not AD 195. [ZZTJ: 62]
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 12
Sanguozhi: Wei 1
Zizhi tongjian: 62
Biography
He Man was a Yellow Scarves commander from Yu province. In AD 196 he operated with Huang Shao and He Yi, also the Runan and Yingzhuan commanderies in Yu province (1). In February AD 196 Cao Cao led a punitive expedition against them. They were defeated and Huang Shao and He Man were both executed (2). He Yi surrendered with what remained of his force. (3)
(1): Earlier in He Yi’s career his band of Yellow Scarves aided Yuan Shu and also operated in association with Sun Jian (a subordinate of Yuan Shu). Though there is no historic mention of Huang Shao and He Man having served along with him at this point it is possible given the fact they all hailed from Yu province.
(2): A Bibliographical Dictionary of Later Han and the Three Kingdoms, de Crespigny, Rafe: He Man, according to SGZ, surrendered with the other leaders. Huang Shao alone is said to have paid the price of death.
(3): Zizhi tongjian 62, translation de Crespigny, Rafe, To Establish Peace I. Sanguozhi: Wei 1, biography of Cao Cao, translation by Adrian Loder.
In the novel He Man wore a yellow turban and green robe, and wielded an iron mace, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, describing a fictional event, He Man advanced by foot and challenged Cao Cao’s commanders to battle. He shouted, “I am He Man, the devil who shoots across the sky. Who dare fight with me?” Cao Hong uttered a great shout and jumped from the saddle to accept the challenge. Sword in hand he advanced on foot and the two engaged in fierce combat in the face of both armies. They exchanged some fifty blows, neither gaining the advantage. Then Cao Hong feigned defeat and ran away. He Man went after him. Just as he closed, Cao Hong tried a feint and then suddenly wheeling about, wounded his adversary. Another slash, and He Man lay dead. (3)
(3): In the novel this battle takes place in AD 195.